The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-12-07


ton, or by any other name, but relieffrom
the hardships and dangers of our present
tariff laws should be devised with especial
precaution against imperilingthe existence
OF our manufacturing interests. But this
existence should not mean u condition
which, without regard to the public wei
fare or n national eXigency, must always
insure the realization OF immense profits
instead OF moderately profitable returns.
AS the volume and diversity of our ma
tional activities increase, new recruits are
added to those who desire continuation
OF the advantages which they conceive the
present system of tariff taxation directly
affords them. So stubbornly have all ei-
forts to reform the present condition been
resisted by those Of our iellow-citizens thus
engaged that they can hardly complain of
the suspicion, entertained to Il certain cx-
tent, that there existed an organized COM
bination all along the line TO maintain
their advantage.
We are in the midst of centennial cele-
brations, and with becoming pride we rc-
joice in American skill and Ingenuity. in
American energy and enterprise, and in
the wonderful natural advantages and re-
sources developed by centurvs national
10 justify scheme which permits a tax to
he laid upon every consumer in the land,
for the benefit OF our manufacturers, quite
beyond n reasonable demand ior govern
mental regard, il suits the purposes of ad-
yocacy to call our manufactures infant in
dustries, still needing the highest and
greatest degree OF fostering care that can
be wrung from federal legislation.
II IL olSn gaiI fhnt tho la Ia.
price of domestic manufactures resulting
from the present tariff is necessary in order
that higher wages may be paid to our
workingmen employed in manufactures
than are paid for what is called
THE rAUpER LABOR or EUROPE
All will acknowledge the force OF an ar
gument which involves the welfare and
liberal compensation OF our labor honor
able in the eyes OF every American citizen;
and, rs II lies at the foundation OF our de-
velopment and progress, il is entitled,
without ailectation or hypocrisy, to the
utmost regard. The standard OF our Ia
bOrer's life should not be measured by that
OF any other country less favored, aud
they are entitled TO their full share of all
| our advantages.
l}y the last census Il il made 10 appear
that OF the 1882, 900 Of our population
engaged in all kindsoi industries, 900, Ig3
are employed in agriculture, i,01l, 23S in
professional and personal service 1851
$40 of whom are domestic servants aud Ia
boreB), while, l,SlO, 2jS are employed in
in trade and transportation, and 3,S37, III
are classcd as employed in manufacturing
and mining.
For present purposes, however, the
last number given should De con-
sidcrably reduced. Without attempt
ing TO cnumcute all IL well
be conceded that there should be de-
! Quoted from those which il includes 315, ll3
carpenters and joinCS, 2sj, lOl millincrs,
drcss-makers and scamstfcsscs: l12.72G
blacksmiths, l33, 1j6 tailors and tailorcsscs,
l02, AS masons, 16,2Il butchers, II, 800
bakers, 22,OS3 plasicrcrs, and 4,S9l en-
gagged in manufacturing agricultural inn
plemcnts, amounting in the aggregate to
l,2ll,023, leaving 2,623,OS9 persons en-
ployed in such manufacturing industries
as are claimed 10 be benefited hy high
tariff. To these the appeal is made TO save
their employment and maintain their
| wages by rcsistinga change. There should
bc no disposition TO answer such
suggestions 10y the allegation that
they are In the minority among
those who labor, and therefore
should iorcgo an advantage, in the interest
OF low prices Ion the majority. Their com
pensation, ~ II may he affected by the
1 operation OF tariff laws, should at all times
1 be scrupui0usly kept in view; and vet,
with slight reflection, they will not over.
| look the fact that they are consumers with
the rest; that they, too, have their own
wants and those OF their families 10 sup.
| ply from their earnings, and that the price
| Of the neccSarics OF life, ~ well rs the
amount OF their wages, will regulate the
measure Of their welfare and comfort. But
THE REDUCTION TAXATION DEMANDED
should be 10 measured rs not 10 nccessi-
tate or justify either the loss Of employ
mcnt 10y the workingman nor the lessen.
| ing OF his wages and the profits still re-
naming Ia the manufacturer, after q
necessary radiustmcnt, should fur
nish no excuse for the sacrifice
Of the interests of his employees
either in their opportunity Ia work Or In
| the diminuiion Of their compensation.
Nor can the worker in manufactures fail
10 understand that while q hugh tariff j.
| claimed 10 he necessary to allow the pay
| mcnt oi Umunemtiyc wages, Il certainly
/ results in very large increase in the
| price oi nearly all SORTS Of manufactures,
/ which, Ia almost countless forms, he needs
/ Tor the Use Of himself and family. lie ~
ccivcs at the desk Of his employer his
wages, and perhaps before lac reaches his
home is obliged, IN purchase lor family
usc 1T an article which cmbrrcs his own
labor 10 return, in the payment II the In
crease In price which the tariff permits.
the hard-cmncd compensation OF many
DAYS ~ toll.
The farmer and the agriculiurisi, who
manufacture nothing, but who pay the
increased price which the tariff imposes
upon every agricultural implement, upon
all he wears and upon all lac uses aud owns,
except the increase Of his ilocks and herds
aud such things ~ his hushandry pro.
duccs from the soil, Is invited 10 aid IN
maintaining the present situation; and he
j. told that high duty ON imported wool
h necessary for the benefit of those who
have sheep 10 shear, IN order that the
price oi their wool may be- increased
They, Of c0ursc. are not reminded that III,
farmer who has no sheep Is by this scheme
Obliged, In his purchases Of clothing and
wooden goods, Ia pay a trilasc a. WI,
icllOw-iarncr, ~ well rs ~ the manuinct
upr and merchant. nor Is any mention
made oi the fact that the sheep owncp
themselves aud their households
MUST WEAR CLOTHING
aud use other articles manufactured iron
the wool they scll ut tariff prices, aud thui
~ consumers must return their share %
this increased price 10 the iradcsman.
think Il may Dc fairly assumed that a larg,
proportion Of the sheep owned by III,
farmers throughout the country are ioun,
IN small nocls, numbering irom twenty.iy,
L. NM Illn III. l.tt ILL. l.t.ulln 81 a..